Bodwell High School - Review #2

What made Bodwell different for me wasn’t just the academics or the location, it was how international everything felt, but not in a forced way. You’d walk into the cafeteria and hear five languages being spoken at once. Group projects weren’t just about learning the material, they were about figuring out how to work with people who came from totally different backgrounds. I think that shaped me more than I realized at the time. Also, Bodwell really trusted students to lead things. I got to help direct our school’s Lip Dub video a giant music video involving hundreds of students and they actually let us run the whole thing. That experience stayed with me long after graduation.

My proudest moment was definitely the Lip Dub. Seeing the whole school come together to create something that big and knowing I helped direct it was unreal. I didn’t just learn about editing or project management; I learned how to lead, improvise, and stay calm when things went sideways. If I could do it again, I’d probably jump into more projects even earlier. I held back a bit in my first year, and I wish I’d known sooner how open the school was to student ideas.

If I could rewind to my first few months at Bodwell, I think I’d tell myself to stop overthinking and just go for it. I was a little shy at first not because I didn’t want to meet people, but because I wasn’t sure where I fit in. Looking back, I realize everyone was in the same boat, just trying to figure it all out. I missed a few cool opportunities because I was waiting to be saved. My advice to anyone starting out at a boarding school? Be curious. Ask dumb questions. Say yes to weird clubs or group trips even if they’re out of your comfort zone. You might not click with everyone right away, but you will find your people. And bring something from home whether its a snack, a photo, a lucky hoodie at least something that grounds you when things

What I liked most about Bodwell was how it trusted students. You weren’t just told what to do but you were asked what you wanted to create. That kind of trust helped me grow up, take initiative, and try things I never thought I could pull off. I always felt like I had the space to be myself, even if that meant showing up to a school event in jeans and a camera strap instead of a blazer.

If you’re coming to Bodwell, bring an open mind and don’t be afraid to start something from scratch. Try different clubs, talk to people outside your comfort zone, and don’t wait for someone to hand you a role instead go make one. Also, pro tip: the rooftop behind the dorms is great for quiet time or filming golden hour shots. And yes, the green tea mochi from the vending machine is worth the hype.

Academics at Bodwell gave you structure, but also room to make things your own. I liked that. I wasn’t the straight-A perfectionist type, but I cared about learning especially when I could tie assignments to creative projects. I had teachers who encouraged me to turn essays into videos or presentations into storyboards. That freedom made a huge difference for me. And the smaller class sizes meant teachers actually noticed what you were into, which helped me feel seen.

Okay, I wasn’t exactly a jock but more like the person filming the soccer game from the sidelines. But I did play volleyball for a bit and joined some intramurals when I could. The cool thing was that you didn’t have to be super competitive to get involved. People encouraged you to just show up and try. The facilities were solid, and I liked how the coaches cared more about effort and attitude than trophies. It wasn’t super intense, which made it more fun.

The arts were where I felt most at home. I wasn’t performing on stage or singing solos, but I was always working behind the camera or editing footage from school events. The school gave us legit tools to work with cameras, software, space to create. One of the things I loved most was how people respected the arts. It wasn’t just a side activity, it was part of our identity as a school. Whether you were painting, acting, or filming, there was a place for you.

There were a ton of extracurriculars at Bodwell, and the best part was that you could start your own thing if it didn’t already exist. I helped kick off a few film-related projects and sometimes helped teachers run tech at assemblies or performances. It was cool seeing students take initiative, and the school didn’t hold you back. If you had an idea, they usually said, “Yeah, go for it what do you need?” That kind of support made it easy to stay involved and take ownership of what you were doing.

Dorm life was one big mashup of cultures, personalities, and late-night food cravings. The rooms were clean and functional, and we had enough space to hang out, study, and even film little skits (guilty). There were curfews and quiet hours, but there was also space to just be teenagers and unwind. Some of my favorite nights were spent editing videos in the common lounge with snacks and music playing in the background.

Honestly, the food was pretty good. The menu changed a lot, which kept it interesting so we had everything from pasta to curry to bibimbap. I wasn’t picky, but I did look forward to dumpling night. The cafeteria was also a social spot, a place to meet new people and hear random debates about which country made the best fried rice. I liked that meals weren’t overly strict and no assigned seating or weird rules. You could just grab your food and chill with your people.

North Vancouver was a cool place to go to school. We were surrounded by water and mountains, but also just a short bus ride from downtown Vancouver. It was peaceful during the week and exciting on weekends. I used to go to the seawall to film or clear my head, and sometimes we'd go into the city to check out art shows or film festivals. The setting definitely fed into my creative vibe.

Social life at Bodwell was pretty easygoing. It wasn’t super cliquey, and most people were open to getting to know each other. A lot of my friendships started because we worked on a project together or something about creating stuff with people just makes connections stronger. There were events like dances and cultural nights, but honestly, the best moments were the unplanned ones: editing until 2 a.m. with roommates, trying out new snacks from someone’s home country, or jamming out to random music in the hallway.